The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games, #0)

by Suzanne Collins

Tigris had said to trust her, and he did. Only his cousin’s cleverness with a needle had saved him so far.

watttttttt

Everyone had learned to despise waste. It was creeping back into fashion, though. A sign of prosperity, like a decent shirt.

A tendency toward obsession was hardwired into his brain and would likely be his undoing if he couldn’t learn to outsmart it.

“It does look elegant. You know what her roses mean to her. Thank her.”

“And last but least, District Twelve girl . . . she belongs to Coriolanus Snow.”

“The District Twelve girl tribute is Lucy Gray Baird,”

Lucy Gray extended her hand to him with the delicate droop of the wrist that invited a kiss. He obliged, and when his lips brushed her skin, he felt a pleasant tingle.

“He’s a child himself. Give him time. I’ve got a good feeling about this one. Well, I’m off to visit my mutts.”

Lucy Gray was one thing belonging to Coriolanus that he would never, ever get.

Inside he glowed, but he maintained a neutral expression.

“It’s just the kind of story that catches fire.”

“Well, you know what they say. The show’s not over until the mockingjay sings,” she said.

“Well, as they say, it’s not over until the mockingjay sings.”

Coriolanus felt sure he’d spotted his first mockingjay, and he disliked the thing on sight.

Maybe he was not cut out to be a lover. Maybe he was more of a loner at heart.

“Hey, you found some katniss. Good work, CC.”